The Hindu : New Delhi News : Notices over destruction of historic monuments

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 07, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Notices over destruction of historic monuments

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a public interest litigation seeking directions to the two respondents to explain alleged destruction of 10 historic monuments in the Capital.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice M. Katju and Justice S.N. Dhingra directed them to file their replies to the petition by May 17.

Petitioner Srichand Jain through his counsel Sugriv Dubey alleged that the 10 "important historical monuments" had either been damaged or destroyed, and the statues installed on these sites had either been damaged or destroyed or sold by smugglers operating in the Capital.

He alleged that land mafia had encroached upon the land on which these monuments stood. Quoting official records, the petitioner alleged that as many as 17 monuments all over the country had either been demolished or material used in their construction had been smuggled out of the country. Ten of these monuments were in Delhi, the petitioner added. The petitioner sought a direction to the respondents to locate and identify the ten monuments of historical importance that had been declared missing by the two respondents two years ago. The petition said that the respondents be also directed to prepare a fresh list of monuments and antique statues situated in Delhi.

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